Exploring the short-term impacts of international service learning on adolescent participants in Cambodia

Abstract

International service learning (ISL) programs in secondary and post-secondary education, often in the context of global citizenship education, have exploded over the past two decades; yet limited research explores the short-term impacts of ISL programs on adolescent participants, nor informs ISL curricular development. This study investigated the short-term impacts of the Cambodia Service Project (CSP) on adolescent participants. Twelve female and six male participants, ranging in age from 16-18 years, participated in the three-week CSP designed by Round Square (RS) in collaboration with a non-governmental organization (NGO) in rural Cambodia. Participants attended RS schools and represented seven countries: Australia, Canada, China, England, Germany, India, and Ireland. A case study approach was used and data was collected through participant reflections, interviews, and arts based methods. The research revealed participants were impacted in four areas which guide ISL curricular recommendations: relationship with self, relationship with others, relationship with culture and environment, and relationship with different perspectives, attitudes, and ways of knowing.